Vestibule-curtain hook.



No. 809,994. PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

' H. SPRINGER.

VESTIBULE CURTAIN HOOK.

' tion applied thereto.

HENRY SPRINGER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

VESTIBULE-CURTAIN HOOK- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed May 8,1905. Serial No. 259,437.

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SPRINGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented cer tain new anduseful Improvements in Vestibule-Curtain Hooks, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to vestibule-curtain hooks; and it consists inthe novel construction and arrangement of parts more fully set forth inthe specification, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a vestibule of two cars,showing my inven- Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section on line 3 3 of Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a similarsection showing hook released, and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the hookwith curtain-handle removed, the hook being in its engaging or lockedposition.

The present invention has relation to de vices for fastening thecurtains on the sides of vestibules of railway-cars; and its object isto provide the vestibule with a curtain-fastening hook from which thecurtaincan be automatically released upon the uncoupling and subsequentparting of two contiguous cars, such automatic release avoiding thetearing and destruction of the curtains under the circumstances. It isto be understood that when the vestibule is wholly inclosed theroller-curtain of one car is stretched across the space between the carsand its free end is secured by means of a hook, over which a loop on theterminal-rod of the curtain is passed. Should the train hand or porteromit to release the curtain before the cars are uncoupled, the latterwill tear the curtain upon parting, and it is the purpose of the presentinvention to avoid such a result.

In detail the invention may be described as follows: Referring to thedrawings, 0 C represent two cars connected by a vestibule V. The sidesof the vestibule are closed in by the expanding and contractingdiaphragms D, whose wearing-plates P remain in permanent contact whilethe cars are coupled together. Each diaphra m D is secured to a post atthe end of each car on each side of the vestibule, the post 1 on the carC serving to carry the curtain-hook presently to be referred to, and theadjacent post 1' of the contiguous car 0 carrying the curtain 2 and itsspring-roller 3. The vertical rod 4 at the free end of the curtain isprovided with a loop or handle 5, Which engages the curtainhook on thepost of the opposite car, the curtain when unrolled serving to cover thediahragm, as is well understood in the art. Formed in the post 1carrying the hook is a cavity or pocket 6, the edges of which arereinforced by a plate 7, conforming to the curvature of the post, thesides of the plate being provided with ears or lugs 8 8, embedded in thepost and flush with the upper and lower walls of the pocket, said lugsforming the bearing for the pin 9, about which the base of the hook 10is hinged. Formed between the base of the hook and the hook'proper is ashoulder 11, which when the hook is swung outwardly rests against theedge 12 of a terminal transversely-disposed reinforcing wall or rib 13,cast with the plate 7. Formed in the base of the hook is an opening 14,which when the hook is swung open, Fig. 3, registers with an opening 15of the rib 13, the latter opening leading to a socket 16, formed in thepost at one end of the pocket 6. These openings 14 15 and socket 16receive a split pin 17, to the outer eye 18 of which is attached one endof a wire cord 19, the opposite end of the wire being secured behind thecurtain to the post of the car C, carrying the curtain, Fig. 2. Forconvenience the position of the hook, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, will bereferred to as the locked position.

The operation of the device is as follows: After the cars are coupledand the vestibule completed the porter swings the hook to an openposition, which brings the openings 14 15 into register. He then insertsthe split pin 17, carried at the end of the wire cord, through the baseof the hook and through the rib 13 into the socket 16, the springingtendency of the arms of the pin locking the hook in its open position.There is of course sufficient slack in the wire 19 to allow for the playallowed the cars by the coupler. With the hook thus open the porterdraws the curtain over the diaphragm and passes the curtain-handle 5over the hook. Should the cars be uncou led at any time, the parting ofthe same wou d first exert a pull on the wire 19. This pull would drawthe pin 17 out of engagement With the hook and socket 16, thus leavingthe hook to freely swing back under the draft of the curtain, the latterrothe curtain to wind on its roller under the action of the springcommonly used on shaderollers. Of course the length of the wire 19 issuch as to pull the pin out of its socket before the curtain begins toexert any undue tension on the hook or before the curtain can becomewholly unwound on its roller. The line of draft on the wire 19 is at anobtuse angle to the pin, so that the latter will readily respond to amoderate pull. Thus the hook becomes released automatically with theuncoupling of the cars, and there is no danger of a curtain tearing withthe parting of the cars after uncoupling.

I may of course depart in a measure from the details here shown withoutin any wise departing from the nature or spirit of my invention. By hookis herein contemplated any swinging or hinged member operating insubstantially the manner heredescribed, and I do not wish to be limitedto any form of this member.

Having described my invention, what I claim is l. A vestibule-curtainhook comprising a swinging hook on one car for engaging the free end ofthe curtain on the adjacent car, a suitable support for the hook, a pinpassed through the hook and into the support for retaining the hook inposition for engagement with the end of the curtain aforesaid, and acord secured to the pin and adjacent car re spectively for withdrawingthe pin upon parting of the cars and thus releasing the hook and thecurtain held thereby, substantially as set forth.

2. A vestibule-curtain hook comprising a swinging member or hook in onecar, said member having a perforated base for the reception of a in, asupport for the hook, a socket formed in the support and registeringwith the perforation in the base and adapted to receive the pin passedthrough said perforation, a cord connecting the outer end of the pin tothe adjacent car, said hook adapted to engage the free end of a curtaincarried on the adjacent car, the parts operating substan tially as andfor the purpose set forth.

3. In a car, a post having a suitable pocket or cavity, areinforcing-plate for the edges of the pocket, ears on said plate, ahook hinged between said ears and adapted to swing into and out of saidpocket, the base'of the hook being perforated for the reception of asuitable pin, the post having a socket at one end of the pocket adaptedto register with the perforation when the hook is swung out of thepocket, means for coupling the pin to the adjacent car, the lattercarrying a curtain whose free end is adapted to be connected to the hookwhen the latter is swung out of the pocket, the parts operatingsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY SPRINGER.

Witnesses:

EMIL STAREK, MARY D. VVHITOOMB.

